Google's latest pair of Pixels elevate Android to a whole new level
Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL show the world it’s serious about hardware.
HIGHS
- Top-notch camera
- Less expensive than rivals
- Futuristic design
- Sharp OLED displays
- Quick processor
LOWS
- No headphone jack
- Pixel 2 still has bezels
When Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones debuted last year, they were quickly recognized as the best Android phones around — from the uncluttered software experience with fast updates, to brilliant cameras aced independent tests. Plenty of newer phones have surpassed the Pixels, but Google’s 2017 follow-ups are looking to take back the crown. Can the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL take back the crown? We got a chance to find out in our hands-on review.
BEZEL-LESS DESIGN, VIBRANT DISPLAY
The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL follow last year’s design theme with a mix of glass and aluminum that lends it a unique, futuristic look. There’s no specific use for the glass — it’s purely for aesthetic. Our favorite color is the “panda” black and white variant of the Pixel 2 XL, which comes with a red power button. The Pixel 2’s “Kinda Blue” color stands out, and it’s the shade we’d likely choose for the smaller phone.
Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL show the world it’s serious about hardware.
The phones feels almost the same as their predecessors, but the metal doesn’t feel as heavy or premium as what you’d find on the iPhone 7 or 7 Plus. On the back, the fingerprint sensor sits below a glass stripe, the Google logo hides at the bottom, and a single camera occupies the top left. The Pixel 2 camera placement slightly differs from the Pixel 2 XL, but the real design difference can be see when you flip the phones around.
The Pixel 2 has chunky edges around the screen, much like last year’s phones. It’s far from what you’d expect in 2017, considering one of the biggest trends this year has been the “bezel-less” design. That’s where the Pixel 2 XL comes in. It’s not as “bezel-less” as devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 or the LG V30, but you’ll find significantly reduced edges here. Shrinking the edges has an importance: You get a more compact phone, but a bigger display. The Pixel 2 XL is slightly larger than the Pixel XL, but you’re getting a much bigger 6-inch screen over a 5.5-inch screen. It didn’t feel tough to hold with one hand, though I have large hands. The Pixel 2 and last year’s Pixel are similar in dimensions, and they have the same 5-inch screen size.
We wish both phones got the same bezel-less design. They’re almost identical in specifications, but you’ll still feel a little left out if you prefer smaller phones. Google sort of makes up for this by popping in two front-facing stereo speakers on the top and bottom of both devices. This is one of the best improvements over last year’s Pixels, because it was easy to block the bottom-firing speaker when holding the phone.
The 5-inch AMOLED Pixel 2 has a 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution (441 pixels-per-inch) with a standard 16:9 aspect ratio. The screen is protected by the latest Gorilla Glass 5 from Corning. The Pixel 2 XL also features Gorilla Glass 5, but the 6-inch OLED screen has a higher 2,880 x 1,440 pixel resolution (538 ppi). The screens looked bright and colorful — the Pixel 2 XL screen was more vibrant and sharp — but we’ll have to do more testing when we receive review units to see how they fare against the competition. VISIT WEBSITE
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